NEPAL LIKELY TO SUPPORT U.S. CANDIDACY FOR UN

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000305 SENSITIVE SIPDIS IO/RHS (AMY OSTERMEIER AND GAYATRI PATEL),DRL/MLGA (LYNN SICADE),AND SCA/INS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL NP SUBJECT: NEPAL LIKELY TO SUPPORT U.S. CANDIDACY FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REF: A. STATE 36629 ¶B. STATE 31175 ¶1. (SBU) On April 9, Rudra Nepal, Under Secretary for UN and International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Emboff that the Government of Nepal would welcome the election of the United States to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Although the Under Secretary did not explicitly promise that Nepal would vote for the United States, he responded positively toward the reasoning behind the request, drawn from Ref B talking points. Rudra Nepal asked how the U.S. would handle competing candidates. Emboff, as per "if asked" guidance, replied that the United States has not and will not ask any country to step aside. ¶2. (SBU) On April 15, post delivered to the Foreign Ministry a diplomatic note requesting the Government of Nepal's support for the U.S. candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council and a copy of the U.S. human rights commitments and pledges as per Ref A request. POWELL